File this under - ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?!

[Craig]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 8:26am

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92681?fp=1

Updated On: 6/17/09 at 08:26 AM

[violet72]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 8:29am

that is crazy

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 10:29am

The article doesn't give enough information for me to form an opinion on either side, but I wonder just what the code of conduct said was or wasn't appropriate behavior.

Is it not similar to posting on BWW? Follow the rules or suffer the consequences, even if the rules are not to your liking?


Updated On: 6/17/09 at 10:29 AM

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 11:00am

Phyllis, as a public school teacher for 22 years, thank you for posting that.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 11:46am

When my older sister graduated two years before me the was an issue with students setting off green smoke bombs. Since it was inclimate weather and the ceremonies had to be held indoors it disrupted the entire ceremony and the building had to be evacuated until the smoke cleared. Because of this incident, a strict set of rules were set up for every graduation ceremony thereafter. The school Administration's opinion was: "Follow the rules or don't attend, those are your two choices."

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 11:46am

If every student took the time to bow and blow kisses wouldn't that bring the whole show to a grinding halt?

If the rules stated they weren't supposed to "showboat" (as I saw one article call it) or something similar, I don't get issue. If they don't enforce the consequences of violating rules, doesn't that just open the door for even more chaos at the next ceremony?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 11:54am

I suppose if they made clear that blowing a kiss to your mom as you crossed the stage was disruptive then it's fair to punish him. I personally don't know that I would find it so, but as Phyllis says, we don't know the specifics.

I think they should implement something similar at the Oscars: go over the time limit in your speech, you go back to your seat without the statuette.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 12:03pm

Graduating Bonny Eagle High School senior Justin Denney took a bow, pointed at a few of his friends, and blew a kiss to his mother after his name was called. School Superintendent Suzanne Lukas told him there was no fooling around on the stage and asked him why he should get his diploma. He told her that he had worked hard and earned it.

But according to Justin Denney and his mother, Mary, Lukas told him, "'No, go take your seat.'"

The crowd gathered to see the seniors of Bonny Eagle High School on June 12 booed the superintendent. But Justin wasn't the only senior who did not receive his diploma that day. Diplomas had not yet been handed out before boisterous seniors began to celebrate. Disruptions in the ceremony from batting beach balls resulted in confiscation of said balls, re-seating some of the seniors to separate them, and one senior being escorted behind the stage, where the young man, who had grown noticeably angrier, pulled his cap and gown off, threw them to the ground, and stomped off.

So it sounds like some students were already acting up, which means the faculty was probably already on edge and this kid decided to push it.



Justin Denney Denied High School Diploma Because of a Kiss? Updated On: 6/17/09 at 12:03 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 12:07pm

Well, that's clearer. I'm still on the fence. I don't know that I'd bowing, pointing, or blowing a kiss as "disruptive behavior."

But if I were the administrator, standing there waiting for this kid to come get his diploma--and if the situation felt like it was getting out of hand elsewhere--I might well have done what she did. Though I would probably subsequently give him the diploma.
Updated On: 6/17/09 at 12:07 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 12:12pm

Perhaps they feared a domino effect or something. One person blows kisses, bows and points, the next does a little dance, etc. I dunno. All I know is that I hate graduation ceremonies and would be annoyed at ANYONE slowing the already torturous proceedings down.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 12:19pm

It all seems a little silly to me.

Granted, I wasn't there and I don't know anything about these kids, but sometimes the stuff that people waste their energy is...well..absurd. (referring to the administration).

Not knocking educators or administrations in general, but come on. It's graduation.

At my graduation I did the dance of the 7 veils. Naked.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 12:19pm

If the crowd were already unruly, I can certainly see why the Superintendent refused him his diploma after his grandstanding tactics. I believe faced with a similar situation, I would too.
The Graduates usually forget that this is not only a big day for them but also for their parents and other family members who are in the audience. Wild celebration is expected but leave it for after the ceremony!

[StageManager2]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 12:23pm

"At my graduation I did the dance of the 7 veils. Naked."

ROTFLMAO!!!

[morosco]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 1:43pm

Video footage of the graduation

[I<3bway]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 2:07pm

Meh, I don't know. The kids at my graduation did flips, hand signs, blew kisses, you name it.



But who knows, if the rules just say to go up there and get your diploma and no waving or blowing kisses, then he should have listened. It's just as the dad said, it's a one in a lifetime deal. There is a lot of time after the ceremony to be with your family and friends.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 2:34pm

Okay- so what he did took no extra time and there was no hooping and hollering (like at my niece's graduation). I guess I can understand that he broke the rules. However, it looks like he's getting his diploma, he did get to walk with his class, and now- he's made national news. There's no reason to be mad- he will have definite memories!

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 2:41pm

Ok, having watched the video, I'm off the fence: blowing a kiss to the family that helped you achieve your diploma is not "grandstanding" or "fooling around."

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 2:43pm

Phyllis, the voice of reason as usual:

"Is it not similar to posting on BWW? Follow the rules or suffer the consequences, even if the rules are not to your liking?"

Or delineated or explained, I might add.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 2:48pm

Ohhhhhh, I know someone who isn't going to be getting his BWW Diploma!

[StageManager2]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 2:49pm

Ha! That reporter's surname is "Baldi" and he's thinning on top. :-P

[I<3bway]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 2:52pm

It probably runs in the family?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 3:03pm

He's HOT! Give him the diploma!

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 3:07pm

Well, yes, that was my other thought.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 3:13pm

He's getting the diploma. The fact that the family "wants answers" and keeps pressing it makes me feel even less sympathy for all of them.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 3:23pm

It's their 15 minutes of fame. Let them bask in it.